Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 28, 2025
Author Spotlight: An Effective Traditional Chinese Medicinal Treatment for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease with Abdominal Distension
Published on: September 1, 2023
Etiology and clinical features of children with bronchiectasis in China: A 10-year multicenter retrospective study
Hao Wang1,2, Bao-Ping Xu1,2, Yan-Min Bao3
1Beijing Children's Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.
Insights
This study identified post-infective causes, primary immunodeficiency, and primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) as common etiologies for bronchiectasis in Chinese children. Clinical features can help indicate specific underlying causes.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Pulmonology
- Respiratory Medicine
- Medical Etiology Research
Background:
- Bronchiectasis in children presents a significant clinical challenge.
- Understanding the spectrum of causes and clinical features is crucial for effective management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the etiological spectrum of bronchiectasis in Chinese children.
- To characterize the clinical presentation and high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) findings.
Main Methods:
- A multicenter retrospective study involving 193 pediatric cases across 13 centers in China (2008-2017).
- Inclusion required confirmed clinical and HRCT diagnostic criteria by two radiologists.
- Data analysis was performed on enrolled cases meeting specific criteria.
Main Results:
- An underlying etiology was identified in 87% of cases, with post-infective causes (46%), primary immunodeficiency (14%), and primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) (13%) being most frequent.
- Common symptoms included cough, sputum production, and fever during exacerbations; 19% had limited exercise tolerance and 30% showed growth limitations.
- HRCT revealed diffuse bronchiectasis in 126 cases, predominantly affecting lower and right middle lobes; positive cultures were found in approximately 30%.
Conclusions:
- A majority of pediatric bronchiectasis cases in China have identifiable underlying etiologies.
- Post-infective causes, primary immunodeficiency, and PCD are the leading contributors.
- Specific clinical manifestations may suggest particular etiological origins.
Introduction:
The current study aims to investigate the etiology spectrum and the clinical characteristics of bronchiectasis in Chinese children.
Methods:
The study is designed as a multicenter retrospective study. 193 cases were enrolled in 13 centers in China between 2008 and 2017. The inclusive cases must meet the clinical as well as the HRCT criteria. Only if both two radiologists confirmed the diagnosis, the case could be enrolled. The cases that could not provide clinical and imageology data were excluded. The data were entered into the specialized system and then analyzed.
Results:
One hundred sixty-nine cases (87%) were found to have the underlying etiology. Post-infective (46%), primary immunodeficiency (14%), and PCD (13%) were the common causes. All cases came from 28 provinces in Mainland China. The median age of symptom onset was 5.8 (2.0, 8.9) years. The median age of diagnosis was 8.4 (4.5, 11.6) years. The main symptoms were cough, sputum expectoration, and fever during the exacerbation. Nineteen percent of patients suffered from limited exercise tolerance. Clubbing was found in 17% of cases. Nearly 30% of patients presented growth limitations. On the HRCT findings, 126 cases had diffused bronchiectasis, and bilateral involvement was found in 94 cases. The lower lobes and right middle lobes were most commonly involved. Approximately 30% of cultures of sputum and bronchoalveolar lavage were positive.
Conclusion:
A majority of cases could be found the underlying etiology. Post-infective, primary immunodeficiency, and PCD were the most common causes. Some clinical figures might indicate a specific etiology.
More Related Videos
04:03Author Spotlight: Evaluating the Therapeutic Efficacy of Moving Cupping Along Meridians for Acute Exacerbation of COPD
Published on: September 27, 2024
06:34A Component-resolved Diagnostic Approach for a Study on Grass Pollen Allergens in Chinese Southerners with Allergic Rhinitis and/or Asthma
Published on: June 4, 2017
Related Concept Videos
01:20COPD: Pathogenesis and Clinical Features
The primary cause for the onset of COPD is cigarette smoking and exposure to air pollution. These hazardous factors initiate a chain reaction within the lungs, resulting in chronic inflammation, damage to the airways, and a...
01:20Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease-I: Introduction
01:22Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Smoking is a primary risk factor for COPD, with over 80% of patients having a history of it. Patients typically experience progressive dyspnea or labored breathing, frequent coughing, and recurrent pulmonary infections. Many eventually succumb to respiratory failure, characterized by...
01:27Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease-IV: Assessement and Diagnostic Studies
Medical History
01:23The Bronchial Tree
The trachea, commonly known as the windpipe, is a tube that connects the larynx (voice box) to the bronchi. At a point called the carina, it bifurcates into two primary bronchi. The right primary bronchus is wider, shorter, and more vertical than the left primary...
01:23Cystic Fibrosis: Pathogenesis
CF is primarily caused by a genetic mutation in a chromosome 7 gene coding for the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) protein. The most common gene mutation leading to CF is the ΔF508 mutation,...